# Those tacky dealer badges you see on some cars

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-tacky-dealer-badges-you-see-on-some-cars/50862>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 19, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-tacky-dealer-badges-you-see-on-some-cars/50862 "2001-01-19T14:35:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-tacky-dealer-badges-you-see-on-some-cars/50862/1 "2001-01-19T14:35:18Z")

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You know how on cars from a lot of areas in the U.S., you’ll see an additional badge on the rear that says “Joe Blough’s Chevy”, or whatever. But I’ve never seen that from a California dealer. Why is this?

I indicated the reason in my subject line why I don’t like them myself, but tackiness usually isn’t a major objection here. So I’m curious why it isn’t done in California. Is there actually a law, or did the dealers all just mutually agree they wouldn’t do it?

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-tacky-dealer-badges-you-see-on-some-cars/50862/2 "2001-01-19T16:09:09Z")

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I don’t have an answer to your OP, but here are some threads about the badges:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=12759](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=12759)  
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=5016](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=5016)

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**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-tacky-dealer-badges-you-see-on-some-cars/50862/3 "2001-01-19T17:12:55Z")

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I don’t think it’s a law.

There’s a Volkswagon dealer in the S. Cal. area called McKenna. They don’t attach an acutal badge, but rather, they apply a sticker that says “McKenna” in some fancy cursive on the trunk.

But yeah, I know what you mean about the badges. I also find them detracting to the car, as well as dealer license plate frames. Having them remove the badge would be one of my requests if I ever purchased a car with it.

I’m not really sure why California dealers don’t apply them. I know most of them already add their name to your license plate frame. But, as for the badge? Maybe they think Californians value a decoration free car upon its purchase.